The graph in Figure 4.5 shows percentages of first citations...

The graph in Figure 4.5 shows percentages of first citations in the $O E D$ with the suffixes -dom, -esque, -ship, -let, and -hood. Make some observations on the patterns that you observe in the graph. How good a view of the comparative productivity of these suffixes do you think this chart gives? Take into consideration what we have said in this chapter about basing estimates of productivity on material in a dictionary. Figure 4.5 Percentages of first citations in the OED of suffixes -dom, -esque, -ship, -let,-hood.

The graph in Figure 4.5 shows percentages of first citations in the $O E D$ with the suffixes -dom, -esque, -ship, -let, and -hood. Make some observations on the patterns that you observe in the graph. How good a view of the comparative productivity of these suffixes do you think this chart gives? Take into consideration what we have said in this chapter about basing estimates of productivity on material in a dictionary.
Figure 4.5 Percentages of first citations in the OED of suffixes -dom, -esque, -ship, -let,-hood.

Key Concepts

Limitations of Dictionary-Based Data

Using dictionary data, such as the Oxford English Dictionary, to estimate morphological productivity has its limitations. Dictionaries are selective in their inclusion criteria and may not capture all innovative or informal uses of suffixes. The resulting data can be skewed by factors like historical text availability and editorial judgment, making it an imperfect indicator of the true, on-going productivity of a suffix in everyday language.

Comparative Analysis of Affixes

Comparative analysis of affix productivity involves examining the relative frequencies, historical emergence, and patterns of different suffixes. Observing percentages of first citations for various suffixes can provide a view of their comparative productivity, but this approach needs to be interpreted cautiously. Differences in citation patterns may reflect not only productivity but also shifts in language use, stylistic preferences, and other socio-cultural factors.

First Citations in Dictionaries

First citations in dictionaries refer to the earliest recorded instances of a word’s usage, as documented by lexicographers. They are used to trace the historical emergence of words and to infer the time frame during which a particular suffix was productive. While they provide a chronological snapshot of language change, first citations are influenced by factors such as available textual evidence and editorial choices.

Morphological Productivity

Morphological productivity is the degree to which a morphological process, such as suffixation, is actively used to create new words in a language. It reflects how frequently speakers and writers coin new terms using a particular affix, and understanding this helps compare the innovation and generative potential of different affixes across time.

Derivational Suffixation

Derivational suffixation is the process of adding suffixes to a base word to form a new word with a different meaning or grammatical category. This process is central to building vocabulary and contributes to the diversity of word forms in a language, offering insights into how language evolves and how meaning is nuanced linguistically.

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